For the fourth time, the Quai de la Daurade, on the banks of the Garonne in Toulouse, is hosting the Eden Park WaterRugby, a spectacular rugby tournament on a floating field. From September 8 to 11, the public can attend this great oval balloon celebration for free in aquatic mode, bringing together former international stars, amateurs, children and company employees.
In total, nearly 600 players will tread the floating platform covered with synthetic grass. No touch, no in-goal: the water is the only limit and you literally have to dive to score! If the high point of the event is the show of the Eau’ll Star tournament, with 40 legends of international rugby of the last thirty years, the organizer of the tournament, Yann Delaigue, former opening half of the Stade Toulousain, announces novelties for this year.
“First there are the fifteen teams of students who will compete for the first time on the floating ground on Thursday, September 8, he explains. For more inclusion, we are also organizing for the first time, two wheelchair rugby 7s exhibition matches: it’s very physical and spectacular since the wheelchairs will dive into the Garonne. Finally, the rugby players will be challenged by a new selection… The handball players, led by their emblematic captains, Jackson Richardson and Jérôme Fernandez. »
As for legends, the public will find this year Louis Picamoles, Jo Tekori, Yoann Huget, Guilhem Guirado or even François Trinh-Duc. Vincent Clerc, former international and Stade Toulousain player, is back again this year in the Eau’ll Star tournament, for the fourth time. “It’s a pleasure and the opportunity to meet the other players, which is rare, and especially to practice rugby, laughs the former winger of the Quinze de France. We quickly fall back into the spirit of competition and we want to win on the field! I also participate in the tournament with the employees of my communication and sports marketing company: it is a moment of team cohesion and transmission of values. » waterugby.com
